Chapter 11: Chapter 11

River

"Just don't think about it." April said as we walked around the masses of people. The carnival was in town so we figured we'd go.

April was an old friend of mine, but she'd moved towns after right after Christen and I had broken up. We didn't get to talk much, but on the days we got to spend together it was like we'd never been separated.

April had long glorious blonde hair that she'd dyed black at the ends. Her green eyes stood out because they always had a sharp sparkle in them. A few freckles graced her nose and her dark pink lips went well with her tan complexion. She had a strong lovely build, lean muscles and almost no fat. She was active in her fitness training and it payed off; she had a six pack since she was twelve. She had a hardy look to her and could really pull a nasty scowl. Like seriously. The girl was scary when she was angry. Not to mention she took boxing and karate so she could pretty much kick anyone's ass and take names later. I remember one night she'd been trying to teach me some moves. I was on my ass in less than five minutes, head spinning and wondering what went wrong. That was pretty much the first and last lesson for me.

Hey don't get me wrong I wasn't horribly lazy or anything. I had a six pack too... You know... Under a layer of belly fat. But it's not a big layer. More like a sheet. Yes, a thin sheet of fat.

"It was strange though. I mean Daimen just defends me at school then takes me out to eat. And then he starts fighting this drunk guy because he tried to touch me, and he gets all mad at me for stopping him and takes me back to school like nothing happened." I sighed as I rambled twirling my fork bitterly in my hand.

"Are you sure he doesn't like you?" April asked with a frown.

"Daimen like me? That's impossible believe me." I said getting a chill up my spine, "He's a total ass."

"Maybe it's one of those weird territorial things. Like in the animal kingdom." My friend said. I paused looking at her, the fork dangling from my fingers.

"The animal kingdom? C'mon April." I said with a scoff.

"Yes the animal kingdom. River, everyone knows that boy may as well be considered nonhuman. He has no feelings. He's an animal." She said with raised eyebrows and a don't-argue-with-me-on-this look.

"I guess so." I sighed. For a moment we didn't say anything else.

"Riv there's a simple explanation: good guys are beaten all the time, bad guys are beaten in the end." April said and I gave her a look.

"You lost me April." I said and she scoffed.

"Here then: guys are like pennies, you find them everywhere. They're not worth much; some are dull, some are bright. But don't fret, if you lose one there's a million more out there." She smiled.

"Then again they're also like the stars, and only one can make your wish come true." She added with a knowing look and I sighed.

"Enough April." I said blowing some hair from my face. I grimaced as a strand got in my mouth and I sputtered as I tried to get it out. I picked at my tongue with my fingers and finally retrieved the hair with my nails. I pulled the wet, spit-covered strand out and flung it to the side before wiping my hand on my jeans. Attractive; I know.

"Okay okay. Just stop worrying about what happened." She said with an amused look at me. I nodded and focused back on the task I had been doing before: eating.

A large funnel cake smeared with powdered sugar and chocolate sat on a plate I held. I gripped the fork I had and got another piece. I shoveled the delicious treat into my mouth and sighed.

"Okay... I'll try." I muttered as we walked past a group of squealing kids. April groaned and covered her ears.

"At moments like this I think parenthood would inevitably suck." She said eyeing a mother attempting to grab her cotton candy covered child. I watched as well as the kid, a little boy, who's hair stuck up in different directions because he somehow managed to get the delectable treat in his blonde locks, sprinted away. The woman watched him go for a split second before chasing after him.

"Fredrick Samuel Harrec!" She yelled before disappearing with the crowd. Ooh, she used the middle name, not good.

"Yep definitely don't want kids." April said taking a lick of the vanilla ice cream cone she had.

"You say that now." I said and she looked at me and frowned.

"I'm serious." She said and took another lick of the ice cream.

I was about to roll my eyes when a guy caught my attention. Ryan, my ex. Anyway, he was staring rather intently at me as he stood some ways off. Then his eyes drifted over me and he smiled softly.

"April." I hissed and she looked at me with a slight crease in her brows.

"Yeah?" She said.

"There's Ryan." I said motioning to the side. I meant for her to be a bit subtle and she was. That's why we were such good friends, she got me. She glanced quickly and when she looked back at me she smirked.

"He's gotten cuter." April said and I scoffed.

"Sure if you like that kind of thing." I shrugged.

He admittedly was pretty attractive.

"Oh honey you know that's not my style, besides we both know you prefer the other type... Like You Know Who... Not Voldemort." She said and I gave her a look.

"Why the hell would I think you meant Voldemort? And I don't prefer Daimen... He obviously needs to get whatever's wrong with him sorted out and I don't have time for that." I said knowing it was I lie.

A strange part of me felt bad for Daimen, perhaps I was going insane.

"Who said I was talking about Daimen?" April asked with a knowing smirk. I shook my head and pointed my fork at her. A small flick of chocolate syrup dripped from the prongs.

"Stop that look. You think you proved a point, but you didn't so stop looking at me like that." I said sharply and she just shook her head before going back to her ice cream which was starting to melt down the come. April muttered a curse and lapped it up.

I looked back over to where my ex had been, but he was gone. I was shrugging off the matter when a voice made me jump and nearly drop my funnel cake. Believe me if I would've the person responsible would have a war on their hands. I do not play about my food. Especially with something as scrumptious as a funnel cake.

"Sorry did I scare you?" The deep voice said and I turned to see Ryan. Now that he was closer I could see he had a small scar near his right eyebrow and his deep blue eyes stared into mine. I gulped at his proximity and backed up a bit.

The boy smiled and cleared his throat, "River, long time no see right?" He said and I frowned.

"I see you at school." I deadpanned eyeing him suspiciously. That said, I was pretty sure I'd never wanted to see this boy again in my life.

"Yeah, but we don't talk." The boy said running a hand through his hair. I looked back at April and she shrugged.

"What's this about?" I asked looking back to Ryan and raising an eyebrow.

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"I was wondering if you'd go out with me sometime..." He said and I stepped back like the words stung me and in a way they had.

"Um, you realize we broke up a long time ago, don't you?" I asked and was greatly surprised when Ryan smiled and nodded.

"Then why would I?" I asked and the boy blinked.

"Look I know you probably hate me, I was young and a dumbass, but I want another chance with you so I walked over, I'm guessing you're taken?" The boy said and I couldn't believe my ears.

This cannot be happening. I thought and looked at the boy.

"I'm not." I said to him and he gave me a wondering look.

"Okay then." The boy said and I shook my head. He smiled and I felt those old butterflies. His smile is what got me all that time ago...

"So...?" I questioned. Surely he must be mistaken.

"So how about tomorrow we meet up at the milkshake place a few blocks down?" He asked.

"Mama's Shakes?" I said and he nodded.

I glanced back at April and she was wearing a knowing grin. She shot a glare at Ryan before sighing. She gave me a wink and nodded softly. Though she looked hesitant at first.

I closed my eyes at her and let out a breath. Fuck my life, looks like I was going on a date.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt." I said and Ryan smiled.

"I'll chaperone if you'd like." I heard April say.

"No its fine." I said looking up at Ryan.

"Say around three?" The guy asked and I nodded my head.

"Fine with me." I said softly and the boy pulled out a piece of paper.

He handed it to me and I took it in shaky fingers.

"What's this?" I asked.

"My new number." He said.

"You just keep your number in your pocket now?"

"No, but you actually holding on to someone's number shows more want? I can't think of the word I'm looking for. Like you could keep it or you can lose it, it all depends on you." Ryan said with a tiny smirk.

"If you need me just call. And please don't stand me up tomorrow." The boy said and gave me a teasing smile.

I swallowed and nodded. I slipped the paper in my pocket.

Ryan gave me a long look before gently laying a hand on my shoulder.

"I'll see you then." He said moving his hand to my arm and bringing me into a friendly hug. April chuckled at my face, it was strange but it's not like I was going to turn down a much needed hug right now. I nodded softly and my cheek rubbed against his shirt. I looked up at him and he gave a small smile.

"Guys are like dogs; they may not behave the best, but they can sense when another guy is sniffing around their territory." April said suddenly and I looked at her in confusion. Where the hell was she getting this shit from?

"April what-" I began.

"Daimen." She gritted out in a sing song way.

Suddenly I was pulled away roughly and crashed into a hard chest. I yelped in shock and indignation as I felt hands gripping me and I was thrown over a shoulder.

I couldn't see what was happening but I heard Daimen and Ryan exchange some heated words before April said, "It's okay Ryan, he's just playing. Well on second thought..."

Then I was being carried away.

"Daimen put me down." I said punching his back and he only huffed.

"Shut it." He growled out as he marched along and I couldn't help that my insides lit up at his voice.

"Your ass is literally in my face." I groaned as that was all that was in my view really, and his legs.

Daimen didn't say anymore as he carried my away from everyone. He finally stopped behind some building and put me down.

"What's your problem?" I hissed going to walk around him so I could leave.

He put out his arm and caught me before caging me against the wall. I gulped but was still angered.

"What are you doing with Ryan?" Daimen growled and I scoffed.

"Nothing." I said trying to leave but he pressed against me and looked into my eyes.

"Didn't look like nothing to me... What were you talking about? Why were you hugging him?" Daimen said sharply and I blinked.

"Why does it matter? I'm going on a date with him tomorrow if you must know." I spat at him and his eyes hardened.

"Really? When did that happen?" He asked and lowered his eyes to the ground.

"Just now." I gritted past my teeth.

"Don't get a fucking attitude with me." He sighed and leaned closer.

"He doesn't give a damn about you. Didn't y'all break up years ago? Why do you think he all of a sudden likes you again? That's bullshit." Daimen spat. Tears flowed from my eyes as his words sunk in and I looked away from him. My hands shook and body quivered as I tried my best to press against the wall to create distance between us.

"Daimen stop." I breathed out. One of his hands curled in my hair.

"Shut up." He spat. I stole myself and pulled his hand out of my hair before shoving him away.

"Fuck you." I retorted and hurried away from him.

"Just because you don't like me doesn't mean no one else does. Ryan's a good guy-" He caught my wrist in an iron grip and yanked me back to him. He huffed and shoved me against the wall with a glint in his eyes.

"Stop. You know damn well he isn't a good guy. If he was so good, why'd you end it? Exactly. So stop with that stupid shit, you're getting on my nerves." His hands gripped my waist and pulled my hips against his and I gasped in shock.

Something was building up inside of me and I didn't like it. Everything was burning where Daimen touched but it was an agonizingly sweet feeling. I hated it.

"Daimen." I gasped and he pressed harder and wrapped my legs around his waist.

"You're like a little kid. Do I have to tell you not to go? Ground you or something?" He growled pulling me closer to him.

"Ground me?" I questioned. Who was he, my father?

"I have my ways of making you stay home tomorrow." Daimen said simply and locked eyes with me.

"Dai-" I started to protest and he pressed his fingers to my lips.

"Stop." He growled harshly. My eyes closed.

"You can't stop me from going." I hissed. Finally Daimen sighed, a glint still flickering in his eyes.

"Stop being stupid... get over him." Daimen said as he pulled away. I sighed and looked away from him.

"You stop. You don't control what I do, don't you have anything better to do?" I said and pushed him away.

"Don't go with him." Daimen spat anger storming in his eyes.

"You're not my dad." I retorted and the boy clenched his jaw.

"I'm glad I'm not then I couldn't do this." Daimen said pushing me against the wall again. I gasped as his hands gripped my breasts and rubbed them. I felt my legs weaken and I gasped as he began to massage me.

"Stop." I moaned and Daimen leaned closer, his hands still toying with me. He abruptly put his face against my neck and started kissing my skin. Butterflies erupted in my stomach and he subtly moved his kisses to my chest.

"Just don't go out with him." Daimen said pulling his lips from me and looking into my eyes.

"Get your hands off of me." I groaned and Daimen moved his hands. I frowned at the fact that the touching and kissing had turned me on and my nipples were perked against my bra.

"Why'd you do that?" I breathed and Daimen shrugged.

"You weren't listening. Had to get your attention somehow." He said nonchalantly.

"The hell is wrong with you?" I snapped and shoved him in the chest. The boy sucked in a breath and huffed before gripping my wrists and tugging my body against his.

"Don't you ever touch me again." I said ripping away from him and hitting on his chest. My hits were ineffective. He met my eyes cooly and raised an eyebrow.

"Don't be so melodramatic." Daimen said grabbing my arms and forcing them to my sides. He stepped back with his hands raised in surrender.

"I'm not being melodramatic! I hate you!" I yelled and stomped away from him.

"See? Melodramatic!" Daimen called after me.

I didn't look back at him as I turned the corner and made my way back to where I'd left April.